Apparatus for notching or slotting perforated cards



March 10, 1953 H. E. HOOE 2,630,863

APPARATUS FOR NOTCHING 0R SLOTTING PERFORATED CARDS Filed Sept. 8, 1947 2 y [III/II f/ a or E ooooUooUJAoooUoo INVENTOR. W I L J Huh rm 2 H00! W BY F 16.3 wwmwm Patented Mar. 10, 1953 APPARATUS FOR NO'ECHING OR SLOTTING PERFORATED CARDS Hunter E. Hooe, Athens, Ohio, assignor to The McBee Company, Athens, Ohio, a corporation Application September 8, 1947, Serial No. 772,725

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for selectively and simultaneously notching or slotting cards or the like having marginally arranged perforations. Such cards are of the general type known as Keysort cards.

An object of the present invention is to provide a gang punch of simple construction, relatively few parts and ease of operation for simultaneously notching 01' slotting a card from one of its edges to selected perforations arranged inwardly of such edge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gang punch embodying punch or cutter operating elements which are individually selectable to be placed in operative positions or to be held in inoperative positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gang punch embodying punch or cutter operating elements which are individually movable and located selectively in operative or inoperative positions, the elements being held positively in one position or the other by a common instrumentality.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, parts being broken away to disclose interior mechanisms;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of a portion of a marginally punched perforated card, which has been notched or slotted in the foregoing apparatus.

As disclosed in the drawings, the apparatus is essentially a gang punch for notching the marginal portions of cards ill from an outer edge ii inwardly to selected perforations 12 arranged parallel to such edge to form a pattern of notches or slots !3 pertaining to a single classification. The machine is designed for simultaneously notching the cards in each group of classifications to indicate certain indicia representing the diderent classifications.

T he apparatus for notohing the cards ii] in the manner indicated includes a generally horizontal base it, having a longitudinal opening 15 across which a plate or platen l8 extends, being secured to the base in any suitable manner, as by use of screws I? or the like. The platen or die plate i5 is provided with a plurality of die recesses or cavities #8 parallel to each other and opening into the elongated hole in the base into and 2 through which the card punched material may fall. The center-to-center distance between adjacent die cavities I8 is the same as the center-tocenter distance between the perforations [2 on the cards to be notched, there being suitable guide means provided in the apparatus for insuring ready placement of the cards with the perforations 12 in registry with the die cavities l8 and with the row of perforations disposed inwardly over the cavities to a suitable extent to insure notohing from theedge ll of the card into the perforations l2.

The die cavitiesl8 are formed by cutting or shearing spring-like cutters, punches or shearing blades l9 from the'plate [6, with the rearward portions lea of the cutters, punches or shearing blades remaining integral with the plate. It is apparent from the drawings that the cutters I9 are forced upwardly from the plane of the plate it a sufi'icient distance to permit entry thereunder of the marginal portion of a card it. The material from which the platen is made possesses spring-like characteristics, so that the punching of the cutters l9 from the platen and their deformation to an upper position results in cutters retaining their spring-like properties, the cutters i9, however, normally tending to remain in and reassume their elevated position above the main portion of the platen Hi.

Each cutter or shearing blade i9 is actuatable downwardly into its aligned die recess or cavity 18 by an individual-operating lever 2%, having a depending forward nose 2i adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the cutter l9 and a body portion 22 extending parallel to and above the cutter, such portion being provided with an elongated slot 23 receiving a pin 24 common to all of the levers and extending along the entire length of the machine and supported at its ends within the vertical side members or arms 25 extending upwardly from the base I4 of the apparatus. The operating levers 20 are adapted to move in vertical planes to shift the punches 'IS downwardly into the die cavities l8,'being guided in such movementby forward and rearward ribs, fins or fingers 25 depending across the side faces of each operating lever 2t from a common sup porting member 21 extending over all of the operating levers and suitably secured to the vertical arms 25 of the apparatus. It is apparent that the operating levers move within individual guide grooves defined by the depending ribs or fins 26.

To the rear of the supporting member 27, each operating lever 20 is provided with an upwardly extending lug 28. This lug .can be held in its forward position, to hold the nose 2i in a corresponding forward position in operative relation with respect to the associated spring-like cutter l9, by a detent bar or a retaining plate 9 extending across the machine and adapted to be located immediately behind one or more of the upright lugs 28 or immediately ahead of one or more of such lugs, for the purpose of either holding selected operating levers 2o forwardly in operative position or rearwardly in inoperative position.

The retaining plate 29 is secured to an L- shaped cover member 30, whose top portion 3! is adapted to extend over the guide member 2'6 and the major portion of the operating levers 23, forming a protective cover therefor, and whose back portion 32 is mounted upon hinge pins 33 secured to the arms 25 of the machine. When the L-shaped cover plate 38 is disposed over the guide member 21 and operating levers 20, as disclosed in Fig. l and in full lines in Fig. 2, the retaining plate 29 is disposed along either the forward or rearward ends :of the operating lever lugs 28. When the cover plate 30 is moved upwardly about its pivot pins 33, the retaining plate '29 is removed from its position adjacent the lugs, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The slot 23 in each operating lever 26 is so disposed with respect to the fulcrum pin 24 about which the lever is swingable as to enable each operating lever to be shifted to a forward posi tion, in which it is operative to actuate an associated punch or cutter blade id, or it may be moved rearwardly on the fulcrum pin 24, in which position it is inoperative and cannot effect downward movement of a punch or cutter blade i6 into a mating die recess or cavity It. The operating levers 2B which are disposed rearwardly, as indicated in dotted lines on Fig. 2, can efiect no movement of their associated punches or cutters, while those disposed forwardly are capable of producing operation of their associated cutters or punches.

The latter are actuated by an eccentric device, consisting of a crank mechanism whose coaxial shaft portions 34 are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings provided in the forward portions of the vertical arms 25. The eccentric mechanism also includes an extended eccentric pin 35 disposed forwardly of the coaxial Shafts 3 and adapted to engage all operating levers 23 which have been shifted to forward cutter actuating positions. One of the coaxial shafts 34, as the one at the right of the apparatus, extends through its vertical arm 25 to the exterior thereof, where a suitable lever 36 is affixed to it, having a bar 37 adapted to be depressed by the finger or hand of an operator to rock the shafts '34 in such direction as to move the eccentric pin 35 downwardly, correspondingly shifting the forward operating levers 2t downwardly, and moving the corresponding spring-like cutters l8 downwardly into the die cavities l8, to notch the card Hi from its edge I! to the perforations l2 in alignment with the forwardly extending operating levers 28. Release of the pressure or force on the common operating lever 35 causes its return and return of all parts to their initial positions, because of the leaf spring :force .of the cutters H, which inherently tend to return to their upper initial positions.

By swinging the cover plate as to the rear of the apparatus about its hinge :pins 33, the retainer bar 29 is removed from its position adjacent the operating lever lugs 28, which then permits certain operating levers to be moved forwardly which are to effect slotting or notchin of the card, and the remaining operating levers to be moved to or allowed to remain in their rearward positions, so as not to be operated upon by the eccentric pin 35 when it moves downwardly under the influence of the operating lever 36. Thereafter, the cover plate 30 moved forwardly to its original position, which locates the retaining plate 29 immediately to the rear of the forwardly positioned operating lever lugs 28 and immediately ahead of the rearwardly disposed operating lever lugs. Accordingly, the forward operating levers 2!! are prevented from moving rearwardly, in view of the engagement of their lugs 28 with the retaining plate 29, and the other operating levers are held in their inoperative positions, since their forward movement is prevented by engagement of the forward portions of their lugs 28 with the rear face of the retaining plate 23. It is, of course, apparent that the forward movement of the operating levers which have been selected for notching or slotting the card is limited by engagement of the ends of their slots 23 with the pin 24. It is also apparent that there i sufiicient clearance between the lugs 28 and other parts of the forward operating levers and the guide member 25, 21 and retaining plate 29 to permit pivotal movement of the operating levers 2!} on the pin 24.

Following forward movement of the operating levers 20 which are to effect slotting and notching of the card, and movement of the cover plate 33 to its initial looking or retaining position, the card it may be placed on the platen i5 and the lever operator 36 depressed, which will eifect notching or slotting of the card in the manner described above. Thereafter, other cards may be notched or slotted in the same manner, or the operating lever :20 arrangement may be altered to effect a different notching pattern on one or more of such cards.

It is, accordingly, apparent that apparatus for notching or slotting perforated cards has been provided which is capable of simultaneously notching or slotting the cards to selected perforations by manipulation of a single lever or corresponding element. The operating mechanism of the apparatus may be variously selected to provide the notching of any indicia on the cards, depending upon the classification thereon desired. Such mechanism possesses few parts, is comparatively simple in construction, in its manner of selection to placing the levers in operating or non-operating positions, and in the mode in which simultaneous punching is effected.

While I have disclosed the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for punching cards, including a member having parallel die cavities therein, spring-like punches integral with said member and in alignment with said cavities, individual punch operators engageable with said punches and movable in one direction therealong to cperative positions and in the opposite direction therealong to inoperative positions, and common means for holding said punch operators in such forward and rearward positions.

2. An apparatus :for punching cards, including a member having parallel die cavities therein, spring-like punches integral with said member and in alignment with said cavities, individual operating levers engageable with said punches, means mounting said operating levers for swinging movement about a common axis and for selective movement in one direction along said punches to operative positions or in the opposite direction along said punches to inoperative positions, common means for holding said operating levers in such forward and rearward positions, and eccentric means for moving said forwardly positioned operating levers to shift their associated punches toward said die cavities.

3. An apparatus for punching cards, includinga member having parallel die cavities therein, spring-like punches integral with said member and in alignment with said cavities, operating levers engageable with said punches, said operating levers having slots therein, a pivot pin extending through said slots to permit selective movem nt of said levers along said punches in one direction to operative positions or along said punches in the opposite direction to inoperative positions, means for holding said operative levers in such forward and rearward positions, and eccentric means engageable with said forwardly positioned operating levers to shift their associated punches toward said die cavities.

4. An apparatus for punching cards, including a member having parallel die cavities therein, spring-like punches integral with said member and in alignment with said cavities, individual operating levers engageable with said punches and having slots, a pivot pin extending through said slots to enable selective movement of said operating levers along said punches in one direction to operative positions or along said punches in the opposite direction to inoperative positions, lugs extending from said levers, common holding means adapted to be disposed adjacent the rear of the lugs on said forwardly extending levers and adjacent the front of the lugs of said rearwardly positioned levers to hold said levers in their respective selected positions, and means for moving said forwardly positioned operating levers to shift their associated punches toward their associated die cavities.

5. An apparatus for punching cards, including a fiat horizontally disposed plate having a plurality of parallel portions therealong struck out to provide parallel die cavities and overlying punch elements integrally joined at one set of ends with the flat plate, means for selectively driving the punch elements toward the die caviti s, said means including elongated horizontally disposed individual punch operators resting at one set or" ends on and supported by the free ends of the punch elements and being movable along the punch elements to and from active positions, a lost-motion pivotal connection for each punch operator for allowed movement of the operators to and from their active positions and toward the die cavities, and means for actuating the actively disposed punch operators to drive the associated punch elements toward the die cavities.

6. An apparatus for punching cards, including a flat horizontally disposed plate having a plurality of parallel portions therealong struck out to provide parallel die cavities and overlying punch elements integrally joined at one set of ends with the flat plate, means for selectively driving the punch elements toward the die cavities, said means including elongated horizontally disposed individual punch operators resting at one set of ends on and supported by the free ends of the punch elements and being movable along the punch elements to and from active positions, a single pivot rod extending through horizontally elongated slots formed in the punch operators to permit movement of the punch operators to and from their active positions and toward the die cavities, and an eccentric bar rotatable for moving the actively disposed punch operators toward the die cavities to drive the associated punch elements toward the die cavities.

HUNTER E. HOOE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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